b'Lonesome After 61 years, the marriage slowly crumbled under the unbearableweight of months-long separations. After more than 30 years, semi-retirement for Bruce MacMillan meant he would no longer be takingNo More those overseas business trips to Saipan. But the next chapter of his lifewords and pictures by Anna Cooke was not one he had envisioned. His five children were all grown withcareers and families of their own. After the familyhome was sold, Bruce moved into a new home byhimself in Longwood, Florida.One of his daughters kept prompting Bruceto adopt a dog, but he just brushed off her sugges-tions. Unconvinced and concerned for her fathersmental health and well-being, she continued send-ingBrucephotosofadoptabledogs.Corey,mydaughter, felt I needed some kind of companion-ship, remarked Bruce. She thought a dog wouldfitthatbill.FurthersolidifyingBrucesno-dogsdecisionwashisbacksurgeryin2022.OnceIrecovered, I just felt there was no way I could takecare of a dog, he said.During a visit from his brother, one evening,thatmayormaynothaveinvolvedsomewine,Bruce showed him a photo of one particular dog hisdaughter had sent him. Mya, a two-year-old GoldenRetriever, was on a farm in Alabama and availablefor adoption. The woman raised Goldens and herhusbandraisedhorses,saidBruce.Myasonlinedescriptionincludedsomehealthissuesthatrequiredsurgery,whichthecouplehadalreadycovered. They were hoping to rehome her.Dick, Bruces visiting brother, had a GoldenRetriever named Roxie and insisted they all go meetMya. He continued prodding Bruce as the eveningwore on. Lets go on a road trip, Dick said, adding,It will be fun! Infamous last words that could beMya is now a therapy dog with Hearts of Gold, reminiscentofascenefromthemovie,Thea Golden Retriever Rescue of Mid-Florida Hangover, about a road trip that didnt go as planned for a group ofcommunity service program. guys. Bruce shook his head.The next morning, as discussed and agreed to the night before,Bruce drove to Dicks house. All arrangements had been made for a meetandgreetwithMya,andher(hopefully)soon-to-beex-ownerswereexpecting the visit. The Alabama farm was located closer to the Tennesseestate line, so the one-way trip would take them about 10 hours.Walkingintohisbrothershouse,Bruceannounced,Letsgo!Weve got a long trip ahead of us. Dick had no recollection of theprevious evenings conversation. What do you mean, long trip?Roxie was already in the backseat before Dick had a chance to lockhis front door. It rained the entire drive. Still on the road as darkness fell, Brucehappened to look over at Dick, who was driving, only to discover hisbrother had night blindness.38 THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'